How to Pack, Brew, and Sip Away From Home
With summer travels ahead, we've received a lot of questions about traveling with tea... and we get it.
At home, you know exactly what you need to brew the cup you like best: the right tea, the right spoon, the right mug, the right steeping time. When you’re away from home, though, there are more variables. Hotel room kettles, airport security, campsites, carry-on space, and unfamiliar water can all make a simple cup feel a little less certain.
The good news? Traveling with tea is very doable. With a little planning, you can bring your favorite blends along for flights, road trips, weekends away, and outdoor adventures.
Below, we’re answering a few of the questions we hear most often, along with practical tips for packing tea wherever summer takes you.
Can You Take Tea on an Airplane?
Yes, you can take tea on an airplane.
Dry tea bags and loose-leaf tea are permitted in both carry-on and checked luggage. For most personal travel, this makes packing tea fairly simple: keep it sealed, clearly packed, and easy to access if your bag needs to be inspected.
Powdered teas, such as matcha, may require a little extra planning. TSA notes that powder-like substances over 12 ounces may need additional screening at the checkpoint, so larger quantities are often easier to pack in checked luggage.
Brewed tea is treated like any other liquid. If you are taking it through airport security, it must follow the 3-1-1 liquids rule: containers of 3.4 ounces, or 100 ml, or less, packed inside a single quart-sized bag.
What About International Travel?
Traveling internationally with tea is usually manageable, especially when it is for personal use and kept in its original packaging.
The important thing to remember is that tea is still considered an agricultural product. When entering the United States, travelers are required to declare agricultural products to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. Declaring what you have helps avoid issues, even if an inspector ultimately decides the item is allowed.
As a general rule, avoid traveling with fresh leaves or unpackaged plant material. For loose tea or teabags, original packaging is best, especially when crossing borders. It helps identify the product clearly and reduces confusion during inspection.
What About Hiking, Camping, or Backpacking?
Bringing the comforts of home outdoors takes a little forethought, and tea is no exception.
For campsites, brewing tea can be fairly similar to brewing at home. You’ll need a way to heat water, a cup that can handle outdoor use, and a practical way to steep. Teabags are often the easiest choice, especially when you want less cleanup. Oliver Pluff teabags are biodegradable, and fillable biodegradable teabags are also a helpful option for bringing loose-leaf tea outdoors.
For camping, a tin or enamel mug is usually a better choice than glass or ceramic. It is easier to pack, less fragile, and better suited to outdoor use.
For hiking or backpacking, an infuser bottle with a built-in basket can make brewing on the trail much simpler. Add your tea, pour in hot water when available, and empty the leaves when you’re done.
And of course, always be careful with your water source. Use properly treated or filtered water when brewing outdoors.
What Should You Pack for Tea on the Go?
A good travel tea setup does not need to be complicated. A few small pieces can make a big difference.
- Teabags are the easiest option for travel, especially for airplanes, hotels, campsites, and quick cups on the go.
- Fillable teabags are ideal if you prefer loose-leaf tea but want less cleanup while traveling.
- A sturdy cup is worth packing if you are particular about your tea. For outdoor travel, choose something durable. For hotel stays or slower mornings away, a double-wall glass can make the cup feel closer to home.
- An infuser is helpful for loose-leaf drinkers, especially if you do not want to rely on whatever a hotel or rental may have available.
- A measuring spoon keeps your cup more consistent. A 2 to 3-gram serving is a helpful standard for many teas, and it takes the guesswork out of brewing away from your kitchen.
- A small tea tin protects your tea and keeps it from being crushed in a suitcase, tote, or backpack.
What Comes in the Oliver Pluff Tea Traveler’s Kit?
With all the moving pieces that come with travel, the last thing anyone wants to worry about is where to find a good cup of tea.
That is why we put together the Oliver Pluff Tea Traveler’s Kit: a compact way to keep your favorite tea and brewing essentials together.
Packed inside a sturdy zippered pouch, the full kit includes a tin for carrying your favorite loose-leaf tea, a double-pane Oliver Pluff glass for comfortable brewing, a measuring spoon for a 3-gram serving, fillable biodegradable teabags, a tea brewing guide, and a pocket tea journal for recording your tea adventures along the way.
For the avid traveler, it takes away the nagging question of where to find a good cup of tea, because you already packed one.
The kit is available as a Full Kit or as the Bag Only, so you can choose a ready-to-pack tea setup or build your own with the teas and tools you already love.
Bring the tea you love, keep it packed clearly, choose tools that suit the trip, and give yourself one less thing to miss from home.
